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The year started with clear skies and warm temperatures
But then the Mistral came and my new tool shed and wood store lost its roof
In February we went back to the UK to watch the 6 Nations match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff. 9 of us plus 2 dogs stayed at Cwmbach farm in the Brecon Beacons. On the saturday Wales just won a hard and exciting match with Dan Biggar playing brilliantly . On the Sunday we climbed the Sugar Loaf mountain in very stormy conditions
Back in London the Loom was set up ready for action......with a little help from Maria a professional weaver
In March we returned to Puymeras but the mild weather had finished and by 1st April it was snowing with minus temeratures and so the fires were seen once again in the orchards
7th April was my birthday.....no surprises what my present from tercia was ! We had booked a celebrator lunch at the village restaurant Girocedre but had to postpone because of the continuing cold weather. However the following week we were there enjoying a fabulous meal and my favorite dessert
In July the Sunflowers are flourishing in the jardin despite the worst drought in France since records began. Tercia is harvesting the seeds ready to plant next year
I test out Claude's box cutter and it is definitely the next tool to get for the meadow
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In the middle of August we had significant thunder storms - the first rain for weeks. Everyone welcomed it including the dogs
And we harvested our first onions
pattipans were as good as ever and second crop of asparagus
In early September I flew back to the UK to say goodbye to Sam who was being posted overseas for 4 months as part of his RAF legal advisor role. Anna joined us for dinner and two runs and to check out Sam's equipment . We ran in Greenwich and Victoria Park
It was during that 1 week visit that Boris went to Balmoral to see the Queen and resign as Prime Minister, Liz Truss followed and started her premiership and 2 days later the Queen died
Tercia and I drove back the following week to spend 2 months in London getting the flat sorted and get our Covid and flu jabs. We started with a visit to the Opera at Covent Garden to see Giovanni
We went to our first “media evening talk and dinner" at the Reform Club club where Steve Richards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Richards talked about Truss and her first 4 weeks. Absolutely brilliant ( very funny and knowledgeable) .
Would you believe the media consultant sitting on my left at dinner was born in Morriston, Swansea ( his father the vicar) and brought up in Cardiff and the retired lawyer on our right was born and brought up in Llanelli !!.
On October 4th was my leaving party from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London. It was a very moving experience when I was presented with a book on my activities over the last 10 years. Guests included Professor Ross Anderson who was my mentor and encouraged me to go into Public Health back in the1980s and Dr Francoise Cluzeau who took over from me as the Senior Scientist on the AGREE project and later joined me at NICE .
I had a second leaving do with the Mental Health Implementation Network on the 20th October. It was at Somerset House and the walk over Waterloo bridge to get there was magical.
On the Sunday Blackheath was full of kites
I started renovating the back garden
Autumn colours were in Greenwich Park and the flat was taking shape
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During our UK stay Tercia went to South Africa for 2 weeks to catch up with her family.
While Tercia was in South Africa I visited Anna in Yorkshire. We stayed at Oulton Hall and visited the RSPB St Aidens.
We returned to Puymeras on the 15th November. Arrived in sunshine and the jardin full on flowers with some late squash and pattipan that were put to good use.
December saw the Football World Cup and Barrys was the place to wtiness the fianl between France and Argentina. It has been called the most exciting final ever and even though France did not win it was a night to remember
The first half with 2 goals against them set the mood but the 2 goals late in the second half transformed the mood and noise levels
The festive season started with an apero with Steve and Jenni and Abel and Sonia on christmas eve. Walks near Faucon with coffee at the Boulangerie on christmas day ( Ceci met a new friend Polka and they both enjoyed their christmas chicken dinner ( see video).
Meanwhile overseas Sam prepared the Christmas meal in the car park
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